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Information and advice for disabled trainee teachers

The government is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards in schools and therefore recognises the importance of attracting skilled and talented people from a variety of backgrounds, including disabled people. Disabled teachers can also help young people raise their aspirations and educate them about respecting diversity and individuality.

Applying for postgraduate initial teacher training courses

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, you are strongly encouraged to make early direct contact with individual training providers before submitting your application.

The Equality Act was introduced in 2010, building on the previous Disability Discrimination Act. Under the Equality Act, it is unlawful for training providers to discriminate against trainee teachers by treating them less favourably when offering places and providing services. They have a legal requirement to make 'reasonable adjustments' so that disabled students are not put at a substantial disadvantage. In addition, all higher education institutions should have a Disability Equality Scheme, setting out how they intend to improve disability equality across their institution.

As part of the application process for an initial teacher training course, the law currently requires you to pass a physical and mental fitness to teach test. All applicants have to complete a declaration of health questionnaire and may also be assessed by an occupational health adviser. The Department for Education recognises that many people with disabilities or long-term health conditions have the health and physical capacity to train to teach. Furthermore, if you have a disability, the occupational health adviser must consider all reasonable adjustments to enable you to meet the Fitness to Teach criteria.

Most training providers have disability coordinators or advisers. You can look up their contact details on the former Skill website.

The disability coordinator can tell you what support is available and help set up an information visit. This is an opportunity to talk to staff about any adaptations that may be needed. You might also want to talk to the head of department or other academic staff for specific course information.

If you visit a training provider, it might be helpful to take with you a checklist of questions to ask members of staff and students. What you ask will obviously depend upon the nature of your disability, but the following are examples of questions you might include.


  • Are all the buildings I need to use physically accessible?
  • Are there any particular facilities for disabled students?
  • Are there any current students with a similar impairment?
  • What support do they receive?
  • Who will help organise my support?
  • Can you help me apply for additional funding if needed?
  • Are the methods of teaching and assessment appropriate to my needs?
  • What would happen if I started the course and experienced a problem?

Telling training providers about your disability in advance can also help them to prepare and arrange support in time for the start of your course. If you are unsure what to tell training providers, you may find it helpful to read the Telling people about your disability booklet on the Disability Alliance website.

Disability Alliance also produces a free guide for disabled students called 'Into Higher Education'. It covers questions such as whether the training provider will be accessible, how to choose a course and what support will be available. In the case studies, disabled students write about their own experiences and the challenges they have faced, providing a valuable insight into what it is like being a disabled student in higher education. The guide is free to download from the Disability Alliance website.

The training provider will not always pay for everything. Instead, you may be able to get funding through Disabled Students' Allowances.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

DSAs are designed to help with the costs that you incur, in attending your course, as a direct result of your disability or specific learning difficulty. They are available to full-time and part-time disabled students, although part-time disabled students must be studying at least 25% of a full-time course.

How much you get does not depend on your income or that of your household. Unlike student loans, this assistance does not have to be repaid.

Depending on your needs, extra support from the DSA could include:

  • specialist equipment, for example computer software, digital recorders, CCTV
  • a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker, specialist tutor or sign-language interpreter
  • extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability, including transport to placement schools
  • other costs, for example extra photocopying costs, Braille paper, ink cartridges.

It is important that you let your awarding authority eg Student Finance England, local authority (LA) in Wales, Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or local education and library board (ELB) in Northern Ireland know straight away if you have a disability and think you will need extra help or equipment on your course.

There is more information about DSAs on the Directgov website. For information about applying for DSAs read Student Finance England's guide 'Bridging the gap' and Key steps to applying for Disabled Students' Allowances.

DSA forms

DSA forms are available to download from the sites listed below.

England: Student Finance England

Wales: Student Finance Wales

Scotland: Student Awards Agency for Scotland

Northern Ireland: Student Finance Northern Ireland

Disabled Students' Allowance: Have your say!

The Disabled Students Allowance Quality Assurance Group (DSA-QAG) have developed an online survey to analyse students' perspective on the service provided by both DSA Assessment Centres and DSA suppliers. They are inviting you to participate in this short survey and help monitor and improve the service that you, and future students, receive when applying for Disabled Students' Allowances. Take the DSA-QAG Student Survey now

Further information

For specific information about funding for disabled students, please visit the Directgov website.